Amazon closes deal on Ruskin site

Tampa, Florida -- In an official announcement early Thursday morning, developer Ryan Companies US, Inc. closed on the sale of the land in Ruskin to USAA which will become the future location of an Amazon mega-warehouse fulfillment center.

USAA and Amazon have signed a long-term lease and construction on the site will start immediately.

Commissioner Sandy Murman stated in a release Wednesday the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Ruskin will create 375 new quality jobs with average annual wages of at least 115% of the state's average wage.

According to County Economic Development staff, the Fulfillment Center is expected to generate more than 1,000 permanent jobs, including the 375 jobs mentioned above, and create hundreds of additional seasonal temporary employment opportunities.

Commissioner Murman's office says the package also indicates that the improvements and equipment required for this project will result in Amazon making or causing to be made through a third party an investment of approximately $200 million.

"This is bigger than landing the Super Bowl, a National Convention or the Olympics," said Commissioner Murman, who represents Ruskin. "Because this is bringing more than 1,000 permanent jobs to South Hillsborough County, with nearly that many seasonal jobs every year, along with the construction jobs. It's a mega-storm of growth that's hitting our county with feeder bands that will create economic growth all over this area."